Cairngorm - World Snowboard Guide

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The Cairngorm ski resort is situated in Britain's largest National Park and about 10miles from Aviemore. As with every Scottish resort, conditions can be variable at best, and the wind can blow any fresh snow away before it gets chance to get a track through it. However in the right condtions it can be pretty good, but it's those conditions that bring out the crowds and the place can struggle to handle things.

Faical Ridge
Photo: Lindsey Towers

After years of countless arguments with environmental bodies, sad bird watchers and squares from various rambling associations, the Cairngorm Mountain Company finally got the go ahead to build the first ever funicular railway in Great Britain. The funicular is also a big relief to first timers as the beginner slopes are up at the top on the Ciste, which used to be reached by the old chair lift that often had to be shut down due to high winds. The train is able to run in much greater winds and travels a distance of 1200 metres from the top car park up to the new Ptarmigan restaurant in around six minutes.

Dawn of the shred 2010 Cairngorm
Photo: Cairngorm resort

All the global warming doom and gloom was supposed to have brought an end to snowboarding in Scotland, but the 2009/10 season has been a bit of a blinder so far, and In 2007 the season started in late November and lasted until early May and 2008 was not far off that. All in all Cairngorm offers some of the best overall terrain in Scotland and with 30km of slopes it is certainly the largest.

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Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Dec to April
Summer: None

Lifts

Total Lifts: 12
Cable cars: 0
Gondolas: 0
Chair lifts: 0
Drag lifts: 11
Other lifts: 1 Funicular Train
Max people per hour: 12,000
Board Leashes required: Yes

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 28
Total ride area: 30km
Longest run: 1.8miles (2.9km)

Top lift: 1080m
Vertical drop: 530m
First lift: 550m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 34%
Red runs: 62%
Black runs: 4%

Lift Passes

	Low Season			High Season
	GBP	GBP	Average	GBP	GBP	Average
Day Pass	29.00	29.00	-6%	29.00	29.00	-15%

	GBP	GBP	Average
Season Pass:	250.00	250.00	-47%

Lift Passes:
Half day £20
Student £22
1 Day pass £29
7 Days pass £146
Season £250
Lift times:8.30am to 4.30pm

Snowfall

Average annual snowfall: 0metres
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 0%

Facilities

	GBP	GBP
Days Rental of Board & Boots:	20.00	20.00

Snowboard Schools: Group lessons £35/day (4hrs), half-day £31
Full day including 4hrs tuition, pass & rental £60
Private £135 for full day, £75 for half
Snowboard Hire: 1 day £20 for boots and board, £31.50 for boots, board and clothing
3 days £51
Night Riding: : No

Other activities

Heliboarding: : Not available
Snowmobiles: Not available

Further information

www.cairngormmountain.co.uk
Email:info@cairngormmountain.org

On a good day with full cover, Cairngorms can be a great days boarding - but don't expect alpine conditions and take your old rock-hopper if you value your base and edges! It can get extremely busy at the weekends.

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ON THE SLOPES: take a packed lunch!
OFF THE SLOPES: shop around
MONEY WISE: Bring your own supplies if you want value for money!

HALFPIPE: No
TERRAIN PARK: Yes - 1 - weather dependant
BACKCOUNTRY/OFF-PISTE:None
TREE RUNS:No

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